mayan empires ex antigua detailed itinerary accommodation: hotel … · 2017-09-01 · mayan ruin...

TRIP NOTES

Mayan Empires ex Antigua22 days | Antigua to Antigua

Mayan Empires ex Antigua - 22 days updated on 01-09-2017

www.onthegotours.comUK 020 7371 1113 [email protected] 1300 855 684 [email protected] 0800 44 77 69 CAN 1 866 890 7038 USA 1 866 377 6147 SA 0800 982 686

This information has been compiled with care and good faith. They give an accurate illustration of the proposed arrangements for this holiday.Circumstances beyond our control such as changes in local conditions, inclement weather or other reasons could force us to make changes to thisitinerary. Any costs shown are subject to change, though are an accurate reflection of costs at time of writing. Please also note that visa requirementsare subject to change and are the responsibility of the traveller and not that of On The Go Tours.

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Take an exhilarating 22 day

journey of discovery through

Guatemala, Belize and Mexico.

Kicking off in Antigua –

Guatemala’s most delightful

colonial town, explore the

incredible Mayan ruins of Chichen

Itza, Palenque and Tikal, travel

through breathtaking landscapes,

soak up the scenery at beautiful

Lake Atitlan, relax on Belize’s idyllic

Caye Caulker island, party in Playa

del Carmen and enjoy some retail

therapy at the colourful Chichi

markets!

HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS

Trip Highlights• Chichen Itza - one of the New 7 Wonders of

the World• Mérida - capital of the Yucatan province• Palenque archaeological site• San Cristóbal de las Casas - colonial city• Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlán• Chichicastenango and the Chichi markets• Antigua - a delightful colonial town• Livingston - a lively town situated at the

mouth of the Rio Dulce• Flores - a charming island town• Tikal - a beautiful Mayan archaeological site

• San Ignacio - Belize's adventure capital!• Caye Caulker - idyllic Caribbean island• Playa del Carmen - one of Mexico's finest

beach resorts

What's Included• 17 breakfasts• 21 nights simple hotels, hostels and

guesthouses• Guatemala City airport arrival transfer on

day 1• Local transportation - public buses, private

vehicles and boats• Excursions to Livingston, Tikal ruins, Caye

Caulker, Chichen Itza ruins, Palenque ruins,San Cristobal village tour, Chichi Market

• Escorted by a tour leader• Specialist local guides at certain sights of

interest

What's Not Included• International flights, departure taxes, border

taxes and visas• Tips on all excursions. Tip for your tour

leader - an entirely personal gesture.• Meals - allow US$25-30 spending money

per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks,limited souvenirs and any extras.

• Airport departure transfer - can be bookedat an additional cost upon request

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 : AntiguaWelcome to Guatemala! Upon arrival at LaAurora International Airport in Guatemala Cityyou'll be met and transferred to our hotel inAntigua. The first day of your tour is simplyan arrival day with no pre-organised activities.In order to allow time to relax and see someof the sights you may wish to add pre touraccommodation. On arrival please ask at thereception for information on when the predeparture meeting will be held. Antigua is one of the most delightful colonialtowns in Central America. The local indigenouscan be seen throughout the cobbled streets andplazas of the city in their colourful costumes,selling their crafts and textiles. As the culturalcentre of Guatemala, Antigua is an ideal placeto experience the traditional music, architectureand art of the country. Rich in ornate churches,convents, parks, plazas, cafés, restaurants, barsand colourful street markets and surrounded byawe-inspiring volcanoes, Antigua is one placeyou will never forget.

Optional Excursions:Pacaya volcano climb – US$20Walking tour – US$30Chocolate making class - US$30Coffee farm tour - US$25

Accommodation: Hotel Posada Los Bucaros orsimilar

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Overnight - Antigua

Day 2 : Rio DulceAntigua - Rio Dulce. We depart Antigua by minivan to the river town of Rio Dulce where weovernight in cabins right on the water. In theafternoon the boat tour along the 23 kilometrestretch of waterway to Livingston allows youto experience one of the most scenic areas ofGuatemala. Livingston is situated at the mouthof the Rio Dulce, where it joins the Bay ofAmatique, and is inhabited by the Garifunapeople. This lively little town has a Caribbeanatmosphere different to the rest of Guatemalaand is a great place to try the delicious localspecialty tapado (seafood coconut soup) andlisten to the local African-style punta music.

Accommodation: Hotel Catamaran or similarOvernight - Rio Dulce (B)

Day 3 : Flores

Rio Dulce - Flores. From Rio Dulce we continueto the charming island-town of Flores, the lasttown to be conquered by the Spanish andsituated in the centre of Lake Peten Itzá. Floresis our base for exploring the breathtaking Mayasite of Tikal which is regarded as the greatestcity of the Maya world and is nestled deep inthe jungle. This complex is one of the biggestMaya sites discovered, and you will have mostof the day to explore and learn about the flora,fauna, and amazing Mayan history with ourknowledgeable local guide. The area around Tikal has been declared asthe Tikal National Park and the preservedarea covers 570 square kilometres. The ancientcity has been completely mapped and at itsheight covered an area greater than 16 squarekilometres, with more than 3000 structures.Today the main centre covers an area ofapproximately two and a half square kilometres.

As you wander the site, you will see severaltall mounds which are temples that have notyet been excavated, and you will have theopportunity to climb some of the tallest Mayantemples. The emphasis was on height when creatingthese imposing structures because the Mayabelieved the higher the building, the closer theywere to the gods. Around Tikal there is a lotof animal life, and if you're lucky, you will havethe chance to spot the noisy howler monkeys,pizotes (a racoon-like animal), exotic birds suchas toucans, and much more!

Included Excursions:Rio Dulce boat tour to Livingston

Accommodation: Hotel Sabana or similarOvernight - Flores (B)

Days 4-5 : San IgnacioFlores - San Ignacio. A short drive takes us to theBelize border and one of the smallest and mostdiverse countries in Central America. Formallyknown as British Honduras, the official languageis still English, but most people also speakSpanish. Our first stop is San Ignacio referredto as "Cayo" by the locals, this agriculturalcentre is also known to be the 'adventure'and 'nature' capital of Belize. The surroundingjungle, wildlife, waterfalls, rivers and caves, havecreated the ideal location for the numerousoptional excursions that are available, fromcanoeing downriver and tubing through caves,to visiting the famous caves Actun TunichilMuknal, where they found untouched Mayanceremonial and sacrificial remains.

Included Excursions:Guided tour of Tikal ruins

Optional Excursions:Tubing – US$100ATM Caves – US$95Canoeing – US$85Caracol Ruins, the largest and most importantMayan ruin site in Belize – US$95Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve – US$85

Accommodation: 2 nights The Aguada Hotel orsimilar

Overnight - San Ignacio (B:1)

Days 6-8 : Caye Caulker

San Ignacio - Caye Caulker. Leaving San Ignacio,we take a local bus through the centre of Belizeto Belize City, where we catch a water taxi outto the Cayes (mangrove islands). Belizeans knowhow to relax, and hopefully the locals' expertiseon relaxation will be contagious during yourstay on Caye Caulker. If not, there are signsto remind you to "Go Slow", "Take it easy",and even "No shirt, no shoes, no problem". Wespend a three very laid back nights on CayeCaulker, where you can throw away your shoesto wander the sand filled streets, spend theevenings eating seafood, drinking cocktails, andlistening to reggae music in one of the bars. During the day we can organise a range ofdifferent optional snorkelling trips for you, suchas to Shark and Ray Alley, where you can swimwithin a few feet of nurse sharks and majesticsting rays, or weather dependent, you may havethe opportunity to swim with sea-cows! Anotheroptional snorkelling tour takes you out to Hol-Chan Marine Reserve where you are guaranteedto see lots of colourful fish and interesting reefformations. Qualified divers can explore the so-called bottomless "Blue Hole", made famous bythe explorer Jacques Cousteau (please note: thisoptional excursion does not go every day, checklocally for availability). Other options includesunning yourself, riding a bike around the island,or trying your luck at fishing. If you are lucky,you can take your catch to one of the localrestaurants so they can BBQ it for you.

Included Excursions:Caye Caulker

Optional Excursions:Half/full day Caye Caulker snorkelling – US$45-80

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Scuba diving in the Blue Hole – US$290Night Snorkelling – US$70Flight over the Blue Hole – US$200pp (min 3people)

Accommodation: 3 nights Hotel China Town orsimilarOvernight - Caye Caulker (B:1)

Days 9-10 : Playa del CarmenCaye Caulker - Playa del Carmen. Crossing intoMexico we travel up the coast to the beautifulbeach resort of Playa del Carmen where wespend the next two nights.

Playa del Carmen is the perfect place forrelaxation. The beaches are coated with sugar-white sand with shimmering turquoise watersto swim in. You can also take advantage ofone of the several interesting optional activitiesavailable in the area such as visiting the island ofCozumel or the amazingly located Maya/Toltecruins of Tulúm. There are also many 'cenotes' inthe area. Cenotes (se-note-tays) are fresh waterswimming holes connected to undergroundlimestone cave systems once sacred to theancient Maya.

Optional Excursions:Tulum Ruins – MXN65 plus transport or MXN80returnCozumal day trip –US$24

Accommodation 2 nights Hotel Playa delCarmen or similarOvernight - Playa Del Carmen (B:1)

Days 11-12 : Merida

Playa del Carmen - Mérida. The hectic daysahead are packed full of surprises for those whoare interested in archaeology. We travel firstto Chichén Itzá, an impressive Maya/Toltec siterecently voted as one of the New 7 Wonders

of the World. Constructed between the 7th and10th century AD, Chichén Itzá was a centre ofpilgrimage for the Maya for over 1000 years. Among the sights your local guide will pointout during the tour of the site are the ballcourt where the captain of the winning teamwas beheaded (no incentive to play your best!)and the sacred cenote where treasures andthe remains of human sacrifices have beendiscovered. The most famous attraction is thegreat Pyramid of Kukulcan, dedicated to thefeathered serpent god Kukulcan and built withsuch precision that a shadow serpent descendsdown the steps during the equinox. Leaving Chichén Itzá we head to Mérida,Capital of the Yucatan province, the 'white city'of Mérida is a pleasant mixture of colonialbuildings, churches and plazas. The marketssimply overflow with beautiful weavings,hammocks and batiks, making this a greatplace to buy handmade crafts and souvenirs.At night the city comes alive with live theatreand concerts. There are many city excursionson offer here - from a comprehensive hopon/hop off bus tour exploring the greatercity area to a relaxing horse-drawn carriagetour around the cobbled streets of El Centroand Pasaje Montejo Boulevard. If you wantto explore the region near Mérida you couldvisit the small fishing town of Celestún withits large flamingo population. You could alsotake a swim in the local 'cenotes' (sen-o-tays), fresh-water swimming holes connectedby spectacular limestone caverns and deepunderwater rivers once sacred to the ancientMaya, covering the entire Yucatan peninsula.

Included Excursions:Guided tour of Chichén Itzá

Optional Excursions:Anthropological Museum – MXN30Mérida city tour – freeUxmal ruins – US$65 (approx)Cenotes, it is possible to swim and snorkel invarious cenotes which often resemble small,circular lakes or lagoons with vertical edges. – US$ 44Hop-on hop-off bus – US$8

Accommodation: 2 nights Hotel Colonial orsimilarOvernight - Merida (B:2)

Days 13-14 : Palenque

Temple of the Foliated Cross, and theTemple of the Sun. Decorated with elaboratefriezes, sculptures and inscriptions, Palenqueis unquestionably one of the most importantMayan archaeological sites. Paths cuttingthrough the jungle lead to various templesand the gorgeous waterfalls, where over time,strange figures have taken shape in the rockformations. A local guide may offer you the extraoption of going on a forest walk where you cansee unexcavated ruins enveloped in jungle. Other attractions near Palenque include thefantastic Agua Azul Nature Reserve with morethan 200 small waterfalls, and the incredibleMisol-Ha waterfall with a 30 metre drop(optional half day tour includes both these falls).

Included Excursions:Guided tour of Palenque ruins

Optional Excursions:Tour by minivan to Agua Azul and Misol Hawaterfalls – US$25

Accommodation:2 nights Hotel Xibalba orsimilarOvernight - Palenque (B:2)

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Days 15-17 : San Cristobal

Palenque - San Cristóbal. Ascending into themountainous Chiapas region we arrive atthe fascinating colonial city of San Cristóbalde las Casas. Situated in the middle ofthe highlands, here you will find Mexico'srichest example of indigenous culture, as itis surrounded by 21 indigenous villages withdistinct languages, dress and customs. Red tiledhouses painted in brilliant colours dominate thecity, maintaining a delightful provincial charm.There are numerous interesting museums tosee such as the Amber Museum, the CoffeeMuseum, the Maya Medicine Museum, and the'Na Bolom' Cultural Centre. The next day you have an included tour of thenearby villages where you can buy beautifullymade local handicrafts and get a true feelfor how modern descendents of the ancientMaya people live today. The tour gives youa fascinating insight into their pre-Colombianbeliefs and their daily struggle to be heard inwhat is one of Mexico's most isolated regions. There is also an option to visit the stunningSumidero Canyon on a guided speedboat touralong a 30 kilometre section of the Grijalvariver to the hydro-electric dam. There are plentyof opportunities to photograph local wildlifesuch as birds, crocodiles and iguanas. The cliffstowering over the river reach 100 metres at thehighest point, which will provide a dramaticbackdrop to your pictures.

Included Excursions:San Cristóbal village tour

Optional Excursions:Na Bolom Museum, the old house of Fransand Trudy Blom, an anthropologist andarchaeologist, who worked with the LacandonIndians. – MXN50

Canyon Sumidero. A tour to a deep impressivecanyon, where you can spot several sun-bathingcrocodiles. – US$25

Accommodation: 3 nights Palacio deMoctezuma or similar Overnight - SanCristobal (B:3)

Days 18-20 : Panajachel

San Cristóbal - Panajachel. Leaving Mexico wecross the border into Guatemala at CiudadCuauhtèmoc. You will find the Guatemalans tobe some of the warmest and most colourfulpeople in the world. Passing through theGuatemalan highlands we travel towards thePan American Highway from where we willhead down to Panajachel on the shores of LakeAtitlán. The drive down has simply stunningscenery, with breathtaking views of the lakeand its three volcanoes, San Pedro, Atitlán andToliman, all of which are over 3000 metres high. A relaxing lakeside town, Panajachel is knownto the locals as 'Gringotenango' due to itspopularity with foreigners and its hippieinfluence in the past. Rated by those who haveseen it as one of the most beautiful and colourfullakes in the world, Lake Atitlán sits at a littleover 1500 metres above sea level. Here youcan take a boat tour to some of the manysurrounding villages (optional) or possibly gofor a swim in the lake. Panajachel also hasmany restaurants and interesting bars lining themain street, where you can have lakeside sunsetdrinks, listen to 60s music, and even eat someAsian food.

Optional Excursions:Lake Atitlan boat trip – US$25Nima'ya de Atitlan, walk the path past waterfalls(in season), across hanging bridges, to a birdobservation deck, a monkey rescue centre, abutterfly reserve and a coffee finca. – US$5

Lake Atitlan villages by ferry – US$5

Accommodation: 3 nights Posada K'amol B'eyor similarOvernight - Panajachel (B:3)

Days 21-22 : AntiguaPanajachel - Antigua. On day 21 we visitGuatemala's most famous market town,Chichicastenango. This village's populationswells from approx. 1000 to over 20,000on market day (when we visit). The localindigenous people, mostly descendents of theK'iche' (Quiché) Maya people, come down fromthe nearby hills to sell everything from kitchenpots and pans to live turkeys! Handicrafts, bags,jumpers and wall hangings are just a few of thebargains to be found here. After lunch we departthe market town and continue to Antigua for thefinal night of our tour. Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an endon day 22, please confirm with the receptionthe check out time. If you have a late flightor have lengthened your stay by adding posttour accommodation you will have more time toexplore the sights. The itinerary listed above is to be used as aguide only. Occasionally we may need to makechanges prior to departure or tour leaders mayneed to make adjustments due to unforeseencircumstances during the tour.

Accommodation: Hotel Posada Los Bucaros orsimilar (day 21)Overnight - Antigua (1) (B:2)

Arriving in Guatemala City /AntiguaThere is no airport in Antigua, Guatemala soyou must fly to Guatemala City and then geta transfer, bus or taxi from Guatemala City toAntigua (45km). Please make sure that yourflight is into Guatemala City, Guatemala, NOTAntigua in the Caribbean.

We recommend that you obtain some localcurrency (the quetzal) as soon as you arrive –although US dollars will usually be accepted.There are numerous international ATMs insideGuatemala City airport, as well as moneyexchange offices offering a good rate. The ratewill always be slightly lower at the airport than

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in the city centre, but remember it may beinconvenient to find an exchange office open inthe city.

Airport Arrival TransferAn arrival transfer from La Aurora InternationalAirport (GUA) to your hotel in Antigua isincluded on day 1. Please look out for someonewith a sign displaying your name/Tucan Travel.If you are delayed by more than an houror you miss your connecting flight, in orderfor us rearrange your transfer, please callthe emergency contact number on your tourvoucher with your new scheduled arrival timeand flight details. We will do our best torearrange your arrival transfer.

If, for any reason, you need to make your ownway to your hotel in Antigua, taxi services arereadily available within the immediate vicinity ofthe airport. These taxi services will be cheaperthan a pre-paid service, however you may haveto face bargaining and language barriers withthe driver. Guatemalan taxis do not have meters,so you should agree on a price before gettinginto the taxi. A taxi to Antigua should cost US$20-25, but of course they will try to charge youmore. A shuttle bus should cost approx. US$10per person, and they usually need at least threepeople to depart. Public buses are very cheap,but extremely difficult to take if you don’t speakSpanish. Taking everything into considerationwe do not recommend this as an option whenyou arrive into Guatemala City.

Driving time from Guatemala City to Antiguacan take anything from 40mins to 2hrsdepending on traffic and other circumstances.

Joining Your TourYour joining location is:Hotel Posada Los Bucaros7a. Avenida Norte No. 94La AntiguaGuatemala

Tel: (+502) 7 832 2346

Please note: Occasionally, some tours may stayat an alternative hotel located nearby. If thisis the case, you will meet as normal at HotelPosada Los Bucaros and you will be escorted to

the alternative hotel, which may be Hotel LasCampanas or Hotel Casa Florencia.

The hotel has safe deposit boxes for your use(you will get an itemised receipt). Please leaveall of your important documents, money andtravellers cheques here when you go out butremember to carry some form of ID and aphotocopy of your passport with you.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Our PartnersPlease note that this tour is operated by TucanTravel. Travellers on your trip will have madetheir reservation with On The Go Tours or TucanTravel. The style of adventure tour Tucan run isfor the independent, savvy traveller who is notlooking for a fully guided experience. That thetours attempt to utilise public transport as muchas possible – providing a hands-on grass rootsexperience.

Personal SafetyIt is not advisable to wear chains or expensivelooking watches or jewellery while in manyCentral American cities. You should also keepyour camera concealed when not in use andcarry daypacks on your front for extra safety.Crime in Latin America is not as bad as itsreputation but you must be sensible and alert.

Arrival & Welcome MeetingWhen you arrive on day one of your trip, youshould find a Tucan Travel welcome note inthe lobby, giving the time and location of thewelcome meeting, which will be around 6pm. Ifyou cannot locate this information, please ask atreception.

You will need to bring the following importantitems to the meeting with your tour leader:

• The original and a photocopy of yourpassport

• Vaccination certificates (if required)• Travel voucher• Details of your travel insurance policy

number and their 24hr emergency contactnumber

Missing The Start of YourTourIf you miss the start of your tour, please ask at thereception of the hotel for a message from yourtour leader which will give you instructions onhow to catch up with the group. Any associatedcosts will be at your own expense (although,depending on the reason, you may be able toclaim these from your travel insurance so ensureyou keep all receipts).

If you know in advance that you are unlikely toarrive on time, please contact us immediatelyso we can inform the tour leader. We cannot beheld responsible should your airline/boat/coachbe delayed and we are unable to refund anyunused portion of your tour.

Hotels & TransfersDay 1 of all our tours is simply a joining dayand the tour actually departs the joining cityon day 2. The last day of your tour is theofficial departure day and is free for you topack or sightsee before you depart. All tours arescheduled to arrive at your final destination theafternoon/evening before your departure day.Therefore very little time is spent in each of thestarting and finishing cities and you will need toallow a few days at the beginning or end of yourtour if you want to explore them further. We canbook pre and post tour accommodation for youupon request.

Check in time is at 1300 hrs on day 1. If youwish to use the services of a room before or aftercheckout time, or you are arriving very early inthe morning of day 1, you will need to book anextra night, which we can arrange for you. Allrooms are on a bed only basis unless otherwiseindicated.

We include an airport arrival transfer on day 1 forall tours.

Airport departure transfers are not included inthe tour price but can be booked upon requestat an additional cost. Please see the tour pricepage of our website for information on prices.

Important: If you are going to be delayed morethan two hours, you must advise us of the delayat least six hours before arrival. If we are advised

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in time, we will make every effort to rescheduleyour transfer and your driver will be asked towait for two hours after your new expectedarrival time. However, if we are not made awareof any change, the driver will only wait for twohours after the original scheduled arrival timeand after this point it will be up to you to arrangetransport to your hotel at your own expense.Please contact us on the emergency number onyour tour voucher.

Optional ExcursionsDuring your tour there will be free time to enjoya range of optional excursions which are listedunder each day of the itinerary in these tripnotes. Your tour leader will be able to makerecommendations and bookings in advancefor most of these activities so you have moreflexibility and control over your itinerary. Pleasenote that you may not have time to do all of theoptional excursions listed. Should you wish topartake in optional activities in the city whereyou tour starts/ends we recommend that youbook pre/post tour accommodation.

Spending MoneyFor personal spending money you should bringUS dollars or Euros to use alongside the localcurrency (where applicable). While bank cardsprovide a very good way to access funds overall,it is not recommended to rely on them asyour sole source of funds as cash machinesdo not always work and may not be availablein remote locations. We recommend you bringalong a minimum of US$200 cash in smalldenominations (no $100 notes). Make sure allnotes are the new style, and are not damaged,defaced, rubber stamped or written on, as manyplaces will refuse them if they are not in perfectcondition. It is a good idea to try to maintain asupply of small notes and change in the localcurrency for tipping or small purchases.

Your spending money should cover some meals,optional excursions, souvenirs, drinks, laundry,border and airport taxes and any visas obtainedlocally. We provide guideline prices for optionalexcursions in the itinerary to help you budget,but ultimately the amount you will need tobudget for your trip very much depends onyour individual requirements. We recommend

bringing extra money to cover emergencies orunexpected situations.

Style of TripOur Central America tours are designed to suittravellers who love being able to travel on manydifferent forms of transport with local people.There is a certain amount of involvementneeded, which will mean carrying your ownbags to the bus or train station or even helpingthe driver throw everyone’s packs onto the roof.If you enjoy meeting and interacting with localpeople and don’t mind roughing it occasionally,then these tours will be just right for you.

It is important that you are open to travellingwith a range of different age groups. You mustalso satisfy yourself that you are fit enough tocomplete the itinerary as there are no refundsif you choose to leave the tour. Based on thenature of this travel style, our adventurousCentral America tours are generally suitable forpeople aged between 18 and 60 years old. If youhave any questions about this please contact usor speak to your travel consultant.

Our Central America tours suit people whoare fit and active. Although no experience isrequired there are many walks between bus/train terminals and hotels and travellers mustbe able to carry their own luggage over variousterrains as well as lift up luggage onto the topsof buses so do not pack more than you cancomfortably carry.

The average group size is 8 to 12 passengerswith a maximum of 18, however onsome included excursions group sizes mayoccasionally be larger.

MealsMost meals are not included on our CentralAmerica Tours, so you can get out there andexperience the best local cuisine on offeraccording to your own tastes and budget. Thisgives the flexibility to choose when and whereto dine and enables you to maximise your freetime and not worry about set meal times. Ourhotels are generally located near restaurantswith standards that vary from first class localeateries to street stalls to ensure we cater for alltastes and budgets.

Transport and TravelOn our Central America tours we use a varietyof transport depending on the country inwhich we are travelling and the length ofthe tour. Vehicles can range from buses filledwith local people and their many possessionsto private minibuses and comfortable air-conditioned coaches. Sometimes you could betravelling on boats, taking a taxi or even walking.

Our aim is not simply to get you from A to B,but to help you to experience each destinationas a genuine traveller, not as a first classtourist. A word of warning - please rememberthat travelling conditions can sometimes becramped and seating is not always guaranteedin Central America. This may mean having tostand for some time in cramped conditions orshare a seat with five others! This adds to theexperience and is all a part of travelling with thelocals.

Due to the vast distances covered on many ofour Central America Tours, please be preparedfor occasional long travelling days. This timespent travelling is unavoidable but you will notbe disappointed once you arrive! On the positiveside there are also many short travel days anddays which involve no travelling leaving you freeto explore at your leisure.

AccommodationOur 'simple' accommodation is generally theequivalent in comfort and amenities of a 2-3star hotel. We stay in small hotels, hostelsand guest houses which are usually situatedclose to the main sights and town centres.They are chosen for their local ambience ratherthan star rating and we look for attributes likecharacter, location, atmosphere, cleanliness andsecurity. Although sometimes quite basic, youwill find clean comfortable rooms with ensuitefacilities (occasionally bathrooms may be sharedbut this is rare), friendly staff and often a barand restaurant attached or nearby. Please beaware that accommodation in Central Americasometimes has erratic services like lack of hotwater or no central heating, staff membersdon’t always speak English and sometimes ourreservations are 'lost'! In general, facilities arevery good but please be prepared for theoccasional mishap, which is all part of thetravelling experience.

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All accommodation is included from the arrivalday until check out time on the final day ofthe tour. Travellers will share rooms with othergroup members of the same gender. Mostly thiswill be in twin rooms although sometimes intriples depending on the group compositionand hotel rooming structure.

Electrical SupplyThe power supply in Latin America differs notonly from country to country but sometimesfrom region to region within a country. Ifbringing electrical equipment, make sure that itcan be switched over from 110 volts to 220 voltsand vice versa. If your equipment is 220 volts itwill work on a 110 volt system (albeit slower),but if you use 110 volt equipment in a 220volt system, it will blow the equipment! Bring avoltage converter and travel plug adaptor (mostcountries either have 2 pin flat as in USA or 2round pins).

What to PackYou will have to carry your own bags on thistour so it is important to bring luggage youcan carry and lift comfortably, potentially upseveral flights of stairs in hotels where elevatorsare not available and between bus/train stationsand hotels. There may be times when you haveto get your luggage through crowded streetswhich may be cobbled or store your luggage inlockers. Luggage too large for lockers will haveto be left insecurely or carried for the durationof the day.

We recommend a frameless backpack or a sportstype shoulder bag which fits comfortably onyour shoulders, as they are less bulky andeasier to handle than rigid suitcases or framedbackpacks. Suitcases are not suitable for ourtours and are not recommended. Tucan Traveltakes no responsibility for damage to yourluggage while on tour. If your tour includesregional flights, there may be a weight limit tothe amount of luggage you can take. Please seeyour detailed itinerary for more information.

In addition to your main bag, you will need asmall daypack for your everyday excursions. Tryto keep this bag as light as possible and makesure that all main sections of your bags can bepadlocked. This daypack should have enough

room to carry food and snacks for long hikesand treks and space to carry belongings forovernight excursions.

Sleeping Sheet:Sleeping bags are not required on this tour, buta sleeping bag liner/sleep sheet is optional if youwish to bring one along. Some passengers liketo use them on long bus journeys and overnighttrains.

Essential for all tours• Tour Voucher and Tour Go Guide• Passport (with 2 photocopies - one keptseparately & the other to give to the tour leaderwith your next of kin details)• Cash/credit & debit cards (with photocopieskept separately)• Travel insurance certificate (with a photocopyto be given to your tour leader)• Spare passport photos (you may need these forobtaining visas)• International airline ticket(s) (with a photocopykept separately)• International Vaccination Certificate (YellowFever if applicable)• International student card (may get youdiscounts into some sites)• Your travel consultant’s phone number andemail address (it is very important to have thisas it is much easier to confirm/change flights etcvia your agent)• Cotton money belt and/or pouch to store yourvaluables under your clothing

Suggested equipment (some useful, somenecessary - use your discretion• Sunglasses• Small calculator (to help with currencyconversions)• Lockable pouch for your money and valuablesto use in safety deposit boxes• Plastic bags (very useful for wrappingcamera equipment, soap, shampoo bottles, wetclothing etc)• Inflatable pillow• Small collapsible umbrella (also good for sunprotection)• Pegless washing line & travel laundry detergent(bio-degradable preferably)• Universal washbasin plug• Torch / flashlight• Binoculars

• Travel alarm clock• Travel plug adaptor• Small medical kit with diarrhoea remedy,rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, steriledressings, plasters, bandages, pain-killers, safetypins etc.• Small sewing kit• Lip balm, sun block with high UV factor (this canbe expensive to buy locally)• Insect repellent (DEET 35% min) and bite cream• Female sanitary products (these may notalways be easy to find in local supermarkets)• Toilet paper (best to carry a roll with you at alltimes) and/or tissues (purchase locally)• Antibacterial hand cleansing gel (the type youcan use without water)• Moistened face tissues (e.g. Wet Ones)• Ear plugs• Travel sickness tablets (these are usually easyto buy over the counter locally)• Cheap plastic wristwatch• Spare pair of spectacles or contact lenses andsolution (a lens prescription is also advisable incase of loss or breakage)• Camera / video camera with plenty of film ordigital camera with spare memory cards• Spare rechargeable batteries for camera etc• Writing materials, address book and diary• Pocket size Spanish phrasebook• Travel games, cards & couple of paperbacks• As gifts for local children - pens (withadvertising on them), coloured pencils, smallnotepads. To discourage a begging mentalitywe recommend that you try to give these gifts atschools or childcare centres rather than on thestreet

Clothing & FootwearWe recommend packing lightweight anddurable clothes including at least one pairof warm trousers and thinner sweaters/fleeceswhich you can layer. Nights can be cold in somelocations such as Guatemala and San José atcertain times of year, so it is a good idea to bringat least one pair of warm trousers plus severalthinner sweaters / fleeces which you can layer.Please avoid military or camouflage-patternedclothing as it can cause problems and in somecountries may be illegal.

Good, comfortable walking shoes are essential.These do not need to be expensive boots, but

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they should have good ankle support and grip,be worn in and ideally waterproof.

Check the climate and altitude atwww.worldclimate.com to get an idea of whatthe weather will be like on your tour so that youcan pack accordingly.

Essential Items• A lightweight water/windproof jacket with

hood• Easy to pack wide-brimmed hat or cap• Towel - you will need a towel for most

overnight excursions• Swimwear• Sandals/flip flops/thongs

HealthPlease see your doctor or travel clinic for anup to date list of all recommended vaccinationsfor the regions you will be travelling to. Werecommend that you do this at least eightweeks before you travel, as you may needa course of medications or more than onevaccination. In general we recommend thatyou are vaccinated against Tetanus-diphtheria,polio, hepatitis A and Typhoid and if travellingto a jungle area, yellow fever. Vaccinations aresolely the responsibility of the traveller and notthat of on the go.

The malarial risk varies in the regions ofCentral America and in some areas appropriatepreventive medicines are needed. Measuresshould always be taken to avoid mosquito bites,such as nets and creams. Please check withyour health care professional as to the best andmost up to date remedy for this mosquito bornedisease.

It is not recommended that you drink the tapwater in any of the countries we visit andwe recommend that you carry a First Aid kitas well as any personal medical requirements.Please be aware that quite often we are inremote areas and away from medical facilities,and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibitedfrom administering any type of drug includingheadache tablets, antibiotics, etc.

TippingTipping is a part of the life in Central America,but you should not feel obliged or pressured

to tip if you have not received good service. Agratuity of 10% of the total bill is recommendedin restaurants. Gratuities are usually expectedfor local guides on included and optionalexcursions. Tips are also appreciated by thetour leaders at the end of your tour and werecommend an average of $2-$4 per person perday for the duration of your tour. This is only ifyou feel that their service was up to standardand is completely at your own discretion.

Time KeepingPunctuality is very important and throughoutthe tour your tour leader will give you the timeto meet in reception. Tour leaders will oftenpost notes at reception with meeting times, soremember to always look out for these.

Although rare, delays can occur and wetherefore advise you not to arrange youronward travel too close to the end of the tour.We take no responsibility for any missed flightsor additional expenses If the group arrives lateinto the departure city at the end of the tour.

Belize Country Guide

Belize - Fact File• Official Name: Belize• Capital: Belmopan• Population: 333,000• Total Area:22,806 square kilometres• Official Language: English, others: Spanish,

Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole• Religions: Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant

27%, none 9.4%, other 14%• Voltage: 110 volts• Dialling Code: +501• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -6.• Airport Departure Tax: US$19

Belize - VisasMost nationals do not need a visa to enterBelize, however it is important to check withyour nearest embassy or consulate. As a touristyou are usually entitled to 30 days, howeverdepending on the immigration official you canbe allocated less days.

On entering you may be asked to fill out animmigration card. A copy of this card shouldstay in your passport until you exit the country.There is no official fee to enter Belize, but to exit

you must pay an official fee of US$19. Your tourleader will remind you of this on tour

Belize - ClimateThere is a basic rainy season May - November.Generally the hottest time will be the monthsof March - May, when it can get extremely hotand humid. Water visibility is best from Marchto September, but is still considered good mosttimes of year (for divers).

The hurricane season on the Caribbean sideof Central America runs from September toNovember. Usually this only means high windsand occasional storms (although sunny daysdo tend to prevail throughout the year). It ishighly unlikely that the full force of a hurricanewould hit any of the areas we pass throughon our tours, however our tour leaders arefully prepared to take any necessary action andwould make itinerary changes if required toensure the safety of clients.

Visit www.worldclimate.com to get an idea ofwhat the weather will be like on your tour.

Belize - MoneyThe local currency is the Belize Dollar - BZ$Belize has a fixed exchange rate of 2:1 withthe US dollar, and you may use either currencythroughout the country, however you willusually get change in Belize dollars.

Remember that once out of Belize you willgenerally not be able to use or exchange Belizedollars. Therefore you must make sure youspend/exchange/ donate any left-over moneybefore leaving the country.

For up-to-date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.xe.com.

ATMs are located in Belize City and San Ignacio.Visa, Plus, MasterCard and Cirrus/Maestro areaccepted in some Belizean ATMs, as long as youhave a four-digit pin. Visa cards are the mostwidely accepted and ATMs will only give youlocal currency (not US dollars). There are noATMs on Caye Caulker and other machines canoften be out of order.

You should also be able to get a cash advanceat the bank (usually only possible for Visa and

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sometimes Mastercard) although some bankswill require a copy of your passport.

Credit cards are accepted in most shops/restaurants/agencies. The most accepted creditcard is Visa and sometimes Mastercard(American Express is not widely accepted),although authorisation can sometimes bedenied due to poor computer connections orother problems! Note there may sometimes becommission charged when paying by creditcard (up to 8% although 5% is standard).

Although bank cards are often the easiest wayto go, there are times where they will not workfor you even if your bank at home tells you it will.Do not rely on your card as your only source ofmoney. Always have a few back-ups with you.

Belize generally accepts torn or marked USdollars, so if your notes are damaged you maywant to off-load them here! You will haveserious difficulties changing/using damagednotes in Honduras, Guatemala or Mexico.

Travellers cheques are very quick and easy touse and exchange in Belize as long as they are inUS dollars.

Belize - ShoppingBargaining is not common in Belize, as shopsusually have set prices on goods.

Belize is not as well known for its handicraftsand textiles as its neighbouring counties are, butyou can find some nice hand-made jewelleryin Caye Caulker. In San Ignacio you can buysome interesting ‘rainforest remedies’ (healthproducts), and throughout Belize you can buyworld-renowned reggae and punta music CDs.

Belize - TippingA 10% service charge is added on to therestaurant bill throughout most of Belize. If it isnot added on, it is still expected (especially in themore expensive restaurants). There may also be‘taxes’ added to your bill, on top of the servicecharge. Sometimes this is included in the menuprice, other times it is added at the end. You arenot expected to tip taxi drivers unless they goout of their way for you although you shouldtip anyone who helps with your luggage, approx50-80cents. Tipping guides at the end of tours/

excursions is always appreciated and your tourleader will advise you on this.

Belize - Local TransportTaxis are recommended for getting around theSan Ignacio area (as local buses can be non-existent or unreliable!). You should expect topay roughly BZ$5 for each taxi you take locally,and up to BZ$10 for a longer journey. The taxisin Belize do not run on meters and you shouldalways confirm the price before getting in thecar.

Belize - Food & DrinkThere is some seafood available in Belize –particularly lobster and shrimp. Chicken andpork are also readily available as well assteak on the mainland. Most meals come withsome kind of salad. Other common side dishesinclude coleslaw, potato salad, rice & beansand sweet fried bananas (platanos). You canget very good, cheap set meals for lunch,as this is the main meal of the day. Apartfrom the delicious local food, there are alsomany international restaurants to be found inBelize. Italian, Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankanrestaurants are abundant. Your tour leader willbe able to recommend restaurants.

FoodLobster or Shrimp - grilled, fried, marinated,served with various sauces and spices – not to bemissed. You will pay between US$10 and US$17a plate, depending on how big the portions are.Note: Lobsters are only in season from mid-Juneto mid-February. The conch (shell fish) seasonbegins when the lobster season ends. Shrimpare usually available year-round.

Local burritos – Belizean burritos are some ofthe best in the world. You can get vegetarian,chicken, shrimp or lobster fillings (US$1.50 to US$4 each). There is a fantastic chilli sauce to befound on every Belizean restaurant table called‘Marie Sharp’ – it comes in mild, hot, extra hotand BEWARE HOT!

DrinkCentral American fruit is fresh and cheap. Thereare some fantastic selections of fruit smoothieand juices on offer. Papaya, melon, watermelon,mango, and pineapple are all very popular.Smoothies can be made with either water or

milk. Always specify if you don’t want sugar.Latin Americans have a very sweet tooth and willusually automatically add the sugar.

Central America is known for its good beer.Belize beer is a little stronger in flavour thanthe other countries. Belikan Beer is the Nationalbeer. It should cost you between US$1.50 andUS$2. Ever since the pirates settled in Belize, rumhas been the spirit of choice. White rum andcoconut rum are most common. Belize is notknown for its wine and it is best to order Chileanwine (although this may be expensive).

The tap water is safe to drink in mainland Belize.Bottled water is available on Caye Caulker, andwater re-fills available at most stores.

Guatemala Country Guide

Guatemala - Fact File• Official Name: Republic of Guatemala• Capital: Guatemala City (often just called

Guatemala, or even 'Guate')• Population: 14.3 million• Total Area: 108,890 square kilometres• Official Language: Spanish 60%, Amerindian

languages 40% (23 officially recognized,including including Quiche, Cakchiquel,Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

• Religions: Roman Catholic and indigenousMayan beliefs

• Voltage: 110 volts• Dialling Code: +502• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -6• Airport Departure Tax: US$40 plus US$3

security tax to be paid at airport

Guatemala - VisasMost nationals do not need a visa to enterGuatemala, but it is important to check the rulesfor your nationality with your nearest embassyor consulate. Entry is granted on production ofa passport valid for more than 6 months andproof of funds to support yourself (althoughproof not usually requested). As a tourist you areentitled to 90 days, however depending on theimmigration official you may be allocated 30, 60or 90 days.

You will probably be asked to fill out animmigration card. A copy of this card should stayin your passport until you exit the country.

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Guatemala is part of the Central America-4(CA-4) Border Control Agreement. As part ofthis agreement eligible foreign nationals cantravel within the four countries (El Salvador,Guatemala, Honduras & Nicaragua) for a periodof up to 90 days without completing entryand exit formalities at border immigrationcheckpoints. If travellers wish to remain in thisarea for more than 90 days they should researchextensions. Overstayers can expect a fine.

Guatemala - ClimateThere is a rainy season throughout CentralAmerica which starts around May/June andgradually works its way through untilSeptember and even sometimes October. Don'tbe put off by the term rainy season, as thisgenerally only means sporadic downpours acouple of times a day. Of course there aretimes when this is not the case but it is fairlyrare for continual rain to persist. The onlyplace where rain is almost guaranteed is RioDulce, located in the middle of the rainforest.Here the rainy season sometimes continuestill Feb! The temperatures in Guatemala aresimilar to other northern hemisphere countries,where it's warmer in summer (July/August)and cooler in winter (December/January). Inthe Guatemalan Highlands temperatures atnight time are quite cool (Antigua, Lake Atitlanand especially Quetzaltenango). For exampleDecember/January nights in the highlands candrop to zero centigrade. Generally, the hottesttime in Guatemala will be the months of April toMay (before the rain comes!).


Guatemala - CurrencyThe monetary unit in Guatemala is the quetzal.For up-to-date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsUS dollars are accepted for some purchases inGuatemala, however you will need quetzales formost purchases. Even if you have the choice ofpaying for things in dollars it will be in yourfavour to use local currency. Therefore we advise

you to obtain a considerable amount of localcurrency as soon as you enter the country.

Remember that once out of Guatemala youwill generally not be able to use or exchangequetzales (except at the border towns).Therefore you must make sure you spend/exchange/donate any left-over money beforeleaving the country.

US dollars and travellers cheques can bechanged at casas de cambio (exchange bureau),banks and border crossings. Your tour leaderwill give you details of when and where best tochange money. Casas de cambio are privatelyowned, usually have longer opening hours andattend to you faster than banks.

Often the easiest way to obtain local currency isto use the ATMs (‘cajeros automaticos’) locatedin every city throughout the country. Visa,Plus, and Cirrus/Maestro are accepted in mostGuatemalan ATMs

Although bank cards are often the easiest wayto go, there are times where they will not workfor you even if your bank at home tells you it will.Do not rely on your card as your only source ofmoney. Always have a few back-ups with you.

In Guatemala you will never be able to use USdollar notes which are torn or marked evenslightly. If your notes are at all damaged youmay use them in Belize, but not in Guatemala orMexico.

Travellers cheques can be very time-consumingto cash in Guatemala and many personal detailsare required. If you choose to take them, makesure they are in US$ and ‘American Express’cheques (they are by far the most widelyaccepted).

If you do decide to queue in a bank, alwayscheck that what you want to do is going tobe possible before lining up. Different bankshave different rules. For example some banks donot exchange travellers cheques. They may alsohave a limit to the amount of US dollars you canexchange. Always try to exchange as much asyou can at one time and try to ask cashiers forsmall notes “billetes pequeñas” as you will find

it very difficult to break large notes throughoutLatin America.

Always make sure you put your cash insideyour money belt before you leave the premises.Pickpockets tend to loiter near banks andchange houses.

Guatemala - TippingA 10% service charge is added on to therestaurant bill throughout most of Guatemala. Ifit is not added on, it is still expected (especially inthe more expensive restaurants). There shouldbe no other charge on top of this. You are notexpected to tip taxi drivers unless they go outof their way for you although you should tipanyone who helps with your luggage, approx50-80cents (Q5). Tipping guides at the end oftours/excursions is always appreciated and yourtour leader will advise you on this.

Guatemala - ShoppingWooden/stone carvings, leather, textiles,hammocks, blankets, wall hangings, gold, silver,jade, typical costumes and ceramic potteries areattractive, cheap and plentiful. The Highlandarea of Guatemala has by far the best bargainsand most variety, due to the strong indigenousinfluence in this area (Antigua, Lake Atitlanand Chichicastenango). Bargaining is expectedwhilst shopping in the markets of Guatemala. Inshops it is considered rude to bargain, but youcan ask for a ‘discount’ (‘descuento’ in Spanish).

Bear in mind that it can be very expensive andnot always reliable to send packages home sotry to buy only what you can carry home

Guatemala - Local TransportTaxis are cheap in Guatemala and werecommend using them at night. Most taxis donot have meters, so you will have to agree on aprice before getting in the cab.

The ‘chicken buses’ (locally called camonetas)are in fact old second-hand American schoolbuses which have been painted in all sortsof bright colours and covered with religiousdecorations! They are extremely cheap forgetting around and they go everywhere! They’resafe to use as long as you use common sense -beware of thieves and pickpockets. These busesbecome very crowded, sometimes 6 people to

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one seat and it’s not uncommon to hear a fewchicks clucking away on market day! Bear inmind that the drivers often drive like lunaticsand sometimes don’t come to a complete stopwhen letting you on or off. These buses areprivately run, so time is money. The more stopsthey make, the more money they make! A boywill come along to collect your money - usuallya few quetzales - after you sit down (if youget a seat!). In most of the places we visit inGuatemala, walking is the best and cheapestway to see the sights.

Guatemala - Local Food & DrinkPeople are often surprised by the quality andvariety on offer in Guatemala This is partlydue to the number of ex-pats who haveopened up a range of different internationalrestaurants. There is also local cuisine to suitevery budget. Chicken, pork and beef areavailable throughout. Most meals come withcorn tortillas and sometimes salad, but oftenlack hot vegetables. Although you might expectthe food to be spicy in this region (‘picante’ inSpanish), this is not usually the case. Your tourleader will be able to recommend restaurants.

FoodCorn (maize), is the staple diet of Guatemala’sindigenous people and you will certainly get alot of it. Mostly in the form of tortillas whichare flat pancake-like things made of corn doughand grilled. The following are a few Guatemalanspecialties:

Guatemalan Enchiladas - Different to theMexican enchiladas, these ones are more likewestern taco shells topped with chichen/pork,salad and cream. Very tasty. You can buy threefor about US$2

Bistec or Pollo Asado - Beef steak or grilledchicken. These are common meals, usuallyserved with tortillas, rice, spring onion, whitecheese, and salad. Prices average from US$3-$5.Note that steak in Guatemala tastes good, butcan be very tough.

Platanos Asados - (roasted bananas) These aretopped either with sugar or cream (or both) forless than US$1 a serving. Keep in mind that thebananas aren't bananas proper...they are a type

of plantain, very sweet tasting and are also oftenserved with savoury meals.

If you have any allergies to foods, please comeprepared with a list to give to your tour leaderwho can then translate it into Spanish for youto show every waiter who takes your order. Ifyou are vegetarian you must always specify ‘nocarne, puerco, pollo, pescado’ etc etc.

In general we do not recommend you buy foodoff the street, however your tour leader will giveadvice, e.g. certain streets in Antigua where thelocal ladies prepare everything well. If you areunsure just try to use common sense and avoidany food that has been sitting around for a longtime (and a word of advice – avoid the brightyellow hot chips sold on every road-side).

VegetariansIf you are a strict vegetarian you may experiencea distinct lack of variety in the food available,especially in small towns. You might findthat you are eating a lot of omelettes andother egg dishes. Our tour leaders will dotheir best to provide interesting vegetarianalternatives when arranging group meals in thecampsite, but your patience and understandingis requested.

DrinkGuatemalan fruit is fresh and cheap. Go to oneof the many juice stands and ask for a “liquadode fruta” (fruit smoothie) or “jugo de naranjay zanahoria” (orange & carrot). Papaya, melon,watermelon, mango, and pineapple are verypopular, but you can also get fun things likecelery, beetroot, & chaya (a spinach-like leaf).Liquados can be made with either water ormilk. Always specify if you don’t want sugar(“sin azucar”). Latin Americans have a very sweettooth and will usually automatically add thesugar! Coke and Pepsi are everywhere. You willalso find all sorts of orange, grape, lemon, andlime soft drinks (“Gaseosas”). “Agua Mineral” issparkling water.

Generally speaking it’s best not to expect goodcoffee/tea in this part of the world. Be warnedthat Americano (weak black coffee) is the mostcommon, followed by “café con leche” (morelike milk with a bit of coffee), and cappuccino(sometimes good). If you ask for tea (“té negro”)

you will get teabags. Always ask for “leche fria aparte” (cold milk on the side) as the alternativeis likely to be a hot cup of milk with a tea baginside.

If you only learn one word in Spanish it’s boundto be “Cerveza”. There are countless lagers, anda few dark beers. A beer will cost you anywherebetween US$1.50 and $3. The most common are‘Gallo’ and ‘Tona’, with the more premium onesbeing ‘Modelo’ and ‘Dorada’.

White rum (ron) are definitely the mostcommonly drunk spirit in Guatemala.Guatemala is not known for its wine and it is bestto order Chilean wine.

Mexico Country Guide

Mexico - Fact File• Official Name: United States of Mexico• Capital: Mexico City (often just called Mexico

(Me-hee-ko) or more commonly D.F (de. efe),for Distrito Federal

• Population: 104.9 million• Total Area: 1.9 million square kilometres• Official Language: Spanish. Indigenous

languages sometimes spoken includeNahuatl and Mayan

• Religions: Roman Catholic 89%, protestant6%

• Voltage: 110 volts, US-style two flat-pinnedsockets

• Dialling Code: +52• Time Difference: GMT/UTC -6• Airport Departure Tax: There is a departure

tax of approximately USD $65 which ispayable on departure from Mexico. This taxdepends on which airline you are travellingwith and your onward destination. Make sureyou have the money just in case if you areunsure whether you need to pay it.

Mexico - VisasMost nationals do not need a visa to enterMexico. Entry is granted on production of apassport valid for more than six months andproof of funds to support yourself (althoughproof not usually requested). As a tourist you areentitled to 90 days, however depending on theimmigration official you may be allocated 30, 60or 90 days.

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Important - you will have to fill out animmigration form on arrival to which will bechecked, stamped and left in your passport forthe duration of your stay. Do not lose this bitof paper; If you do not produce this paper ondeparting Mexico you must pay a fine of US$42.

There should not be an entry fee to Mexico, andif you are entering and exiting Mexico by air youshould not have to pay an exit fee (other thanairport departure tax which may or may not beincluded in your ticket). However if you haveentered Mexico by land, you will then have topay a fee (US$20) to exit the country. Your tourleader will advise you about this.

Mexico - ClimateThere is a rainy season throughout Mexicowhich starts around May/June and graduallyworks its way through until September/October.Don't be put off by the term rainy season, asthis generally only means sporadic downpours acouple of times a day. Of course, there are times,when this is not the case but it is fairly rare forcontinual rain to persist. Generally the hottesttime in Mexico will be the months March to May- before the rain comes.

The temperatures are mostly similar to othernorthern hemisphere countries, where it'swarmer in summer (July/August) and cooler inwinter (December/January), but temperaturesvary according to location and altitude. In theheight of summer for instance, in the YucatánPeninsula the temperature can reach 34°C anddoesn't get much cooler at night. Even in winterthe coolest night temperature would be about17°C.

Jungle areas (such as around Palenque) are hotand humid, with lots of rain for most of the year.At altitude temperatures will be much cooler.Mexico City for example, reaches about 24°C insummer but can drop to about 12°C at nightand in winter the high is about 19°C and lowas 6°C. The hurricane season on the Caribbeanside of Central America and the Gulf of Mexicoruns from September to November. Usually thisonly means high winds and occasional storms.It is highly unlikely that the full force of ahurricane would hit any of the areas we passthrough on our tours, however our tour leadersare fully prepared to take any necessary action

and would make itinerary changes if required toensure the safety of clients.


Mexico - MoneyThe local currency is the Mexican peso. Usuallya dollar sign is used as a symbol, however theMexican peso can be identified as $, N$ or M$.To distinguish US dollars, US$ is usually written.For up-to-date exchange rates with your owncurrency visit www.xe.com.

Changing money, credit cards & ATMsUS dollars (cash) are accepted for somepurchases in Mexico (particularly the Cancúnarea) however you will need pesos for mostpurchases.

US dollars and travellers cheques can bechanged at casas de cambio (exchange bureau),banks and border crossings. Your tour leaderwill give you details of when and where best tochange money. Casas de cambio are privatelyowned, usually have longer opening hours andattend to you faster than banks.

Often the easiest way to obtain local currency isto use the ATMs (‘cajeros automaticos’) locatedin every city throughout the country. SomeATMs will issue US doillars but this should not berelied on. Do not rely on your card as your onlysource of money. Always have a few back-upswith you.

Mexico - Tipping & EntranceFeesTippingA 10-15% service charge is added on to therestaurant bill throughout most of Mexico. If itis not added on, it is still expected (especially inthe more expensive restaurants). There shouldbe no other charge on top of this. You are notexpected to tip taxi drivers unless they go outof their way for you although you should tipanyone who helps with your luggage, approx50-80cents (5-10pesos). Tipping guides at theend of tours/excursions is always appreciatedand your tour leader will advise you on this.

Entrance Fees

Generally speaking most museums in Mexicocost between US$2 and US$4. There are manyinteresting museums to visit, but please bearin mind that many museums close on Mondaysor Tuesdays. The many beautiful churches andcathedrals of Mexico are always free to enter,but flash photography is strictly forbidden, andopening hours vary greatly.

There are sometimes cultural events going onand galleries/exhibitions which are free to enter.Your tour leader will give you more detailson these. Mérida actually has a free historicalwalking tour of the city centre every morning,which is definitely worth doing.

You might also get the chance to take in anevening show. Perhaps the theatre or the ballet.Tickets for these are very reasonable and pricesrange from US$5 to US$20. Some evening shows(which include local traditional dances) are puton by the tourist office free of charge.

Mexico - ShoppingHaggling is expected in Mexico and huntingfor bargains can be a real highlight. Woodencarvings, leather, textiles, hats, hammocks, wallhangings, gold, silver, jade and amber areattractive, cheap and plentiful throughout theregion.

Each different region has its own regionalhandicrafts/ jewellery etc. so if you likesomething, buy it! You may never see it again (orif you do it will probably be more expensive). It isgenerally agreed that Oaxaca and San Cristóbalhave the best bargains and most variety, partlydue to the strong indigenous influence ofsurrounding villages. Bargaining is expectedwhile shopping in the markets, but in shopsit is usually considered rude to bargain. Youmay however ask for a ‘discount’ (“descuento” inSpanish).

Mexico - Local TransportTaxis are recommended for all journeys withina city. With the exception of Mexico City, taximeters are not in evidence, so you may have tohaggle with the driver to agree upon the fare.This can be either fun or a real hassle, so it is agood idea to find out in advance, from your tourleader or the hotel receptionist, approximatelyhow much the fare should be. It will also help

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if you can speak a few words of Spanish. Youwill almost certainly have to accept that you willpay more than the locals do. Local buses andthe underground metro system (Mexico City)are also easy to use.

Mexico - Food & DrinkAs a guideline a simple snack (e.g. a sandwich)can cost as little as US$1.50, a light meal will costaround US$3-6, and even a meal in one of thebest restaurants costs very little in comparisonto what you would expect to pay at home.Obviously this depends on what you order andif you have wine or other drinks which willcertainly increase the bill. In cheaper restaurantswhere locals and backpackers eat, you can getmeals for as little as US$1. Your tour leader willbe able to recommend restaurants.

FoodIn Mexico a torta is a Mexican sandwich (roll)with a base of refried beans, onion, guacamole,tomato, mayo, then chicken, sausage or ham –made to your liking. Platanos asados are roastedbananas. They are topped either with sugar orcondensed milk (or both), as you request it. Bearin mind the bananas are a type of plantain, witha slightly different flavour and texture. Theseplantains are also often served with savourymeals. Mexico is flush with all sorts of culinarydelights (too many to list here) and you shouldattempt to try as many of them as you can.One which certainly deserves a mention is molesauce, commonly served with chicken, turkeyor enchiladas of chicken/turkey. Mole is a richchilli sauce, thickened and enriched with nutsand seeds and augmented by various spices.The most famous is called “mole poblano” whichis a dark brown colour as it has chocolate addedto it.

Although Mexican food has a reputation forbeing spicy (“picante” in Spanish) this is notalways the case. Usually you will have the choicewhether you want to make it spicy or not. You’llnotice on every table there will be various chillisauces, the most common being a home-madesalsa called “chimichurri” or “salsa casera” madeof tomato, onion, coriander (cilantro), and chilli.Sometimes this will be very mild, sometimesvery hot. In any case you can always request“picante” or “no picante”.

DrinkAll drinks such as water, soft or alcoholic drinksare at your own expense at all times. Thefollowing is a rough guideline for drinks boughtin a shop in the street. Prices in restaurants andhotels can sometimes be more than double theprices specified below:

• 1 litre of water US$0.80• Bottle of soft drink US$1.00• Bottle of national beer US$1.40

Mexican fruit is fresh and cheap. Go to one ofthe many juice stands and ask for a “liquadode fruta” (fruit smoothie) or “jugo de naranjay zanahoria” (orange & carrot). Papaya, melon,watermelon, mango, and pineapple are verypopula. Always specify if you don’t want sugar(“sin azucar”). Latin Americans have a very sweettooth and will usually automatically add thesugar.

Generally speaking it’s best not to expect goodcoffee/tea in this part of the world. Be warnedthat Americano (weak black coffee) is the mostcommon, followed by “café con leche” (morelike milk with a bit of coffee), and cappuccino(sometimes good). If you ask for tea (“té negro”)you will get teabags. Always ask for “leche fria aparte” (cold milk on the side) as the alternativeis likely to be a hot cup of milk with a tea baginside.

If you only learn one word in Spanish it’sbound to be Cerveza. There are countless lagers,and a few dark beers. The most common areCorona, Sol, XX, Pacifico, Montejo, with the morepremium ones being Modelo and Bohemia. Alsotwo ways of drinking beer distinct to Mexicoshould be tried: A chelada is a beer alreadyprepared with lime and salt. A michelada is thesame only with a special chilli sauce added.White rum (ron) and unsurprisingly tequila aredefinitely the most commonly drunk spirits inMexico. Kahlua is also Mexican. Mexico is notknown for its wine and it is best to order Chileanwine.

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